Beyond Borders: What It Means to Be a Global Citizen

Are you interested in a minor where you learn from other disciplines, and practices in order to understand who you want to become in your personal and professional life? Do you value skills such as critical thinking, multi perspectivity and social engagement? Then join the minor Beyond Borders: What It Means to Be a Global Citizen.

The growing interconnectedness among people and economies means that our world needs a different type of professional: world citizens who understand the complexity of this interconnected world, who know their responsibilities and want to get involved in local, or (inter)national communities. In this minor you develop an increased awareness of the many connections between one’s personal and professional situation and conditions elsewhere.

Useful to know

Course content

What do you need to enter this programme? And what can you expect when you apply? In this section you'll find all you need to know!

The minor has two important streams: World citizenship and Bildung. This minor is about your personal as well as your professional position in society. Which attitude and choices do you take as a world citizen to global developments such as blurring boundaries, mounting inequality, human rights, technological and ecological change? And in your future profession, as a teacher, journalist, ICT-professional or healthcare personnel, you also have to adapt to these global challenges. World citizenship is about important, though not always easy things: an awareness that extends beyond the borders of your local or national community, insight in (inter)national developments, reflection on the many connections between one’s personal and professional situation and conditions elsewhere, and the readiness to draw conclusions from them. Bildung in this minor is meant as personal development. For example: self-knowledge, learning from the perspective of the other and understanding your personal responsibilities in this world.

Would you like to know more about this programme or do you have a specific question? Please contact the programme coordinator Andrea Vink or Peter Mesker.

In this minor you work on an individual basis and in subgroups on practice related study assignments. In Block A you will be introduced to various global issues, from a cross-cultural and interdisciplinary approach, and we connect those global issues to your professional practice through excursions and other practice-oriented events. For example field trips to an asylum seekers centre, Fort de Bilt and an international study trip to Berlin.

In Block B you will be given the opportunity to work on your own professional questions in an (international) organization of your own choice (f.e. schools, press, companies) by exploring this organization’s perspective regarding the theme of world citizenship. This minor also gives you the opportunity to explore your learning questions in an professional practice abroad.

Block A

Module

Course Module Title

ECTS

A

The world around you. About world citizenship.

5

B

Learning to live together. Nations, nationalism and religion in a globalized era.

5

C

Global inequality. The main challenges of our time – a human rights perspective.

5

At the end of modules A, B and C, a joint international study trip to Berlin is organized.

The level of language proficiency necessary to participate in the minor is English CEFR level B2.

Please note: You may be asked to take a language assessment test before the start of the programme. If your English language skills are below the required level, you may not be able to enter the course, as you need to be able to actively participate in (parts of) the programme. In all cases, the programme manager makes the final decision.

Practical information

When you move to a different country to study, there are lots of things to arrange. For instance, where will you live, how much are the costs? Visit the practical information site. Read here for more info about how to arrange housing. A student living in the Netherlands needs about € 800 - 1000 a month to cover living expenses, such as housing, food and transportation. This includes insurances – health insurance is mandatory.

Find out how to apply

Why Choose HU?

Become a global citizen

This minor is about your personal as well as your professional position in society. It will improve your self-knowledge, you will learn from the perspective of the other and understand your personal responsibilities in this world.

Vibrant university city Utrecht

Beautiful Utrecht has lots of young people and excellent facilities for student life. It has a mediaeval city centre which is small enough to explore by foot or bicycle. Enjoy a drink next to the quaint canals or dine in one of the converted wharf cellars.

Studying at HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht means you get to enjoy all the benefits of our modern campus, Utrecht Science Park (USP). A miniature city with the universities' buildings, student housing, restaurants, cafés, a sports centre, and much more, it enjoys excellent transport links to Utrecht and beyond.

HU supports your ambitions. Our lecturers will tutor and assist you in making the most of this international programme. During your time in Utrecht, you will meet students from all over the world and make connections to last a lifetime.

Interested in our Beyond the Borders: What It Means to Be a Global Citizen programme?